Clearly, I need to review domain registrars.

I’ve used +Namecheap for domain registration for some years. But today they failed to initiate a transaction with my bank to pay for a renewal over many attempts on my part, told me that the bank denied the charge (the bank was clear that no transaction had even reached clearing let alone to them), and then suggested that I instead use the card to put money into my “Namecheap account”, and then use the money now in that “Namecheap account” to pay for the renewal. (Perpetual motion next?)

I kept re-trying, and eventually the payment went through, or at least I got an invoice and their web site shows the domains as renewed, but incompetence does not inspire confidence, especially when it comes to handling credit cards.

I’m definitely not going with godaddy; incompetent wins, if only slightly, over evil. Any suggestions for competent and not evil replacement domain registrars that I ought to consider?

[Update 22 Jan: Namecheap discovered a connectivity problem with their credit card processor:  http://status.namecheap.com/?p=14619 so there is now an explanation for what happened to me.]

Eugene Crosser January 10, 2014 17:02

I use gandi.net and I am a happy user. They lingered a long time before introducing dnssec and ipv6 glue records, but now both work. Also, I think that having hosting and dns service in different countries is a right thing to do.

Curtis Olson January 10, 2014 17:05

I’ve been using easydns.com and they’ve always been solid for me.  They aren’t a discount registrar though, I pay the full $35 per year for a .org name.

Michael K Johnson January 10, 2014 17:07

Ah, I run my own DNS (crossing secondaries with friends) so all I need is the glue.

H. Peter Anvin January 10, 2014 17:14

+1 for GANDI.  They include secondary service which you can add to your own set if you have one.  They are about $16/domain*year.

Kevin Fenzi January 10, 2014 17:31

I use https://www.gkg.net/ here. (I also run my own nameservers, just using them for glue). They are reasonably cheap, have not hassled me any, and support ipv6/dnssec/all those goodies.

Pete Zaitcev January 10, 2014 17:40

One problem with Gandi is how everyone who is anything in FLOSS world uses them. If anything happens to them, we are in a world of hurt.

Jeff Garzik January 10, 2014 18:58

Something Odd is going on.  I’ve had a couple recent credit card declines, on my card and the wifey’s card.  Called the CC company, who claimed no such charges were ever attempted; never reached their system.  One instance was a plumber, using an online CC processor, and one instance was a Dekalb County GA tax payment.

Daniel Veillard January 11, 2014 01:06

+1 for Gandi too. “No bullshit” they were founded by french linux geeks, and ultimately Laurent Chemla recognized that this DNS thing is an organized racket

Brian Lane January 11, 2014 11:59

I’m not sure I’d switch over such as issue, assuming it doesn’t happen again. I’ve been using them for years (since the whole seclists.org godaddy thing) and have had zero problems.

Michael K Johnson January 11, 2014 14:20

I’m just annoyed, in part because their responses were so unhelpful (and, in part, plainly stupid), and flaky handling of credit cards does not inspire confidence. It’s not just because of a technical failure; that happens from time to time. Before this, I did recommend them to others from time to time.

At the same time, now that I have all my domains paid for at least a year and others are further out from buying more years at a time, I’m not excited about transferring right away and thus double-paying. So I guess I should review the situation about six weeks before my next domain expiration and decide then whether to move.

But in any case I can no longer unreservedly recommend them as I could previously.

Mitch Franklin January 12, 2014 00:04

So which ones do you consider to be evil? I’ve used Network Solutions for 15 years with many domains and I’ve never had a problem.

Mitch Franklin January 12, 2014 00:13

Oh, nevermind, I see you are probably thinking of the front-running of Network Solutions.

Namecheap January 12, 2014 16:39

Sorry to read that. Have you contacted our support?

Michael K Johnson January 12, 2014 18:40

+Namecheap The complaint was that support and billing couldn’t help when I asked! Not sure how I could have talked with them to be so dissatisfied without contacting them!

That said, on I think the fourth or fifth response, I finally got an acknowledgement that the bug might not be on my bank’s side and at least saying that you would investigate, instead of being obnoxious and condescending. So that’s an improvement.

Steve Burnett January 13, 2014 00:19

I use domainsite, mostly.

Adam Chasen January 14, 2014 22:06

I use OpenSRS/tucows. I am happy to set up a whitelabel account for you.

Namecheap January 17, 2014 06:59

+Michael K Johnson could you please provide your ticket ID? That will allow us understand the issue better. Thanks.

Michael K Johnson January 17, 2014 07:54

SUY-738-56227

Namecheap January 20, 2014 08:18

Thanks, Michael. The issue is being investigated. 

Joseph S Tate January 21, 2014 00:46

I’ve used 123cheapdomains.com for more than 12 years. Never any problems, but no frills either. DNS support is very very basic for example.

Michael K Johnson January 22, 2014 12:39

http://status.namecheap.com/?p=14619

It was NOT JUST ME.

Of course, now they are redesigning their web site and I can seem to find the control panel in their new interface. Ugh.

Michael K Johnson January 22, 2014 12:46

Ah, found it. Have to log in, then click on your name…

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